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The School of Missions is a great course to prepare you for a life of adventure and excitement on the mission field. The school's main focus is to equip you, the missionary, with some necessary skills that will help plant you as fast as possible in your target location. This 6 month training program is made up of a 12 week lecture phase and an 8 to 12 week outreach.
During the lecture phase you will spend the morning in lectures that will teach you many practical tools. In the afternoons you will be divided into groups with other students that are focused on the same region, country or religion you are focusing on. In these groups you will examine many different aspects of your target area. First and foremost, you will discover and unpack your Life Mission Statement. What is it that you want to see happen in the area of the world that the Lord has laid on your heart? How will you see that happen? What steps are needed to be taken as you head in that direction? You will also spend time studying this religion/region, learning about the best ways to reach out to this particular group of people. What are the strongholds of the religion/region you are targeting? How can you be most effective in breaking through the strongholds of this religion/region? This school will help you attain the answers to these questions. The lecture phase could include topics like:
- History & cultural studies of your target area
- Training to be effective in evangelism & discipleship within your target area
- History of missions and a missions overview
- Language acquisition
- Support team building: raising adequate personal and corporate finances
- Team development: understanding personality types and motivational giftings, utilizing strengths and weaknesses of the team
- Principles & process of starting a long-term ministry
- Avoiding burn-out: how to last and last well
- Business & missions ethics
- Church planting
- Interpersonal relationship: conflict resolution, principles of confrontation, communication, leadership aptitude
- Prayer & intercession in missions
- Urban missions
- Discipling nations
The 12 week lecture phase is followed by an 8-12 week practical field assignment phase applying what you have learned during the lecture phase. The field assignment location varies as to the specific school's country/people group focus, but it is a requirement to spend the 8-12 weeks in the mission field context as part of a team.
The School of Missions is a school that will take you above and beyond your expectations! Expect to be blown away in the classroom with the wisdom and insight of people that have served overseas on the mission field for several decades, and expect God to meet you on the field!
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